Non-Stop Gardening Tips & Inspiration
Before he became an olive oil mill master at Chacewater Winery, Emilio was a monk in Lake County. So how did he end up managing 3,000 olive trees and, at one point, milling 100 tons of olives all by himself? … [Read more]
A flyer arrived in my mailbox last week from Recology (our trash, recycling and greens pick up service in SF) announcing the The Great Compost Giveaway and also please bring my own bucket. You've probably noticed the greens bins that appeared all … [Read more]
Ever have a moment where an interesting event triggers a fun memory? I had one this morning, and it really made me want to travel... I'll tell you why. The interesting event came about when reading an article in the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum … [Read more]
I can't help it, my eyes light up just thinking about all of the many creative ways to go about vertical gardening. Some are DIY, others are DIY with some help from kits & frames, less work, yay. :-) Other ideas borrow from historical gardens, … [Read more]
Q & A with Emilio of Chasewater Winery & Olive Mill... Q: What is the minimum number of olive tree varieties needed to make olive oil? A: For olive oil and olives on small acreage you need 4 to 6 trees because of pollination issues. … [Read more]
Imagine looking outside your window and seeing a sea of color. Or, viewing a stunning flowering tree (maybe even fragrant) as you walk up to the front of your home. The scenario, whether it’s an impactful flowering tree growing in a container on the … [Read more]
It's late winter and I'm enjoying how many pink flowering shrubs are alive and vibrant right now! ← For the dry garden it's all about manzanita (Arctostaphylos), with their waxy light pink, delicate bell flowers that are not very showy, but subtle … [Read more]
If you find the obligation of watering to be a chore, hooking up a battery operated timer with a simple drip irrigation system may really work for you! To get started, you'll need a hose bib somewhere (anywhere) near the pots or plants you want to … [Read more]
A few years ago I witnessed the falling of a street tree in my San Francisco neighborhood. It felt crazy and surreal, right out of a Hitchcock movie. How could this be? It's the middle of a dry, sunny Spring afternoon. No winds to speak of … [Read more]
Several years ago I visited some of the most incredible gardens in Kyoto, Japan. On the more recent side, yesterday, I spent several hours at both the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco and the Japanese Garden within San Francisco Botanical … [Read more]